Post by Dvv on Nov 15, 2015 19:48:53 GMT -6

The recent Kickstarter project Dark Flame brought to light an issue that has been bothering me for years, the metroidvania/igavania style Castlevania games being way to easy. In most games I never even found any reason to use the backdash for anything that wasn't an exploit. Then I remembered Bloodstained had Nightmare Difficulty Mode as a stretchgoal.

What do you want to see out of Nightmare Difficulty Mode and what do you NOT want to see in Nightmare Difficulty Mode?

The number one thing I want to see out of Nightmare Difficulty is more aggressive AI that actually gives you a reason to backdash away from frequently, maybe even give an enemy or two new attacks to throw people who played normal difficulty first off their game, or have a few Nightmare Difficulty exclusive enemies.

Maybe another thing that could be included is an increase in traps/hazards? There are always a lot of rooms in Castlevania that are just long hallways with an enemy or two in them, how about rooms like this get spiced up a bit with a spike trap or two, or maybe even a pendulum? Of course if there is a spike trap it has to be visible on the floor, which brings to me what I don't want to see in Nightmare Difficulty Mode.

The last thing anyone likes in a video game is artificial difficulty, something that's not ACTUALLY hard but that you WILL die to at least once until you've memorized where all the hazards are, something sudden and unavoidable(i.e. a sudden spiketrap completely invisible until it hits you). Now im not saying hazards and traps have to be OBVIOUS, just that they're something that someone who is paying attention can avoid.

Lastly another thing I'd like to avoid is Nightmare Difficulty Mode just being an increase in numbers. No one likes it when an increased difficulty is just the same old same old but every enemy is damage sponge. Of course enemies should have increased HP but it shouldn't be increased to the point that its obnoxious and tedious.

Post by allooutrick on Nov 15, 2015 21:40:02 GMT -6

What I love about games that focus on stealth is that the difficulty comes from how alert enemies are and changing the difficulty can affect that. What I would love to see on nightmare mode is something similar and that would be enemies behave more aggresively.

Post by Astaroth on Nov 16, 2015 9:25:39 GMT -6

Lol, medusa heads in every room >3<

...please no, id break so many controllers ;_;

As for nightmare, a more aggressive ai, add a few weaker troll enemies or a more powerful enemy into rooms, a few nightmare only enemies above the normal mode top tier mobs to put into the high level areas, offset by a much higher drop rate (which has the added effect of lessening farm overlevelling), and a special ending, would add both incentive and reward to playing it, without making it a damage sponge convention

Satoru Iwata: "On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer.” Game on Iwata-san

Post by purifyweirdsoul on Nov 16, 2015 10:36:34 GMT -6

I mostly agree with what's been said so far. I think that one simple way to do this, too, would be just to alter the enemy placement. Weaker monsters are phased out sooner or don't appear at all, while later game enemies take their spots in more inconvenient locations. There could be some devious enemy placement where you have to approach the situation carefully to avoid damage, even better if the AI works together against you.

And maybe in Nightmare, the consequences of the curse are more dire? There might be detriments for using magic too much or spending too much time with the crafting system. For an even greater challenge, maybe you have to run Nightmare as Pure Miriam and not use either at all? But perhaps by choosing to do so, you are stronger with raw damage or use demon-slaying subweapons empowered by your purity.

Post by Goobsausage on Nov 16, 2015 16:25:42 GMT -6

I like all of these suggestions except for the special ending. Putting part of a game's story behind difficulty levels feels like a "come on, really?" thing to do. I remember Shadows of the Empire doing something similar with difficulty levels and trying to get the "full" ending felt more like a chore than an incentive/reward. It's also a wasted effort on the developer's end since players can just look up easter eggs and cutscenes on youtube nowadays.

The higher drop rate idea feels like a much better incentive to play higher difficulties since it's based on the player themselves experiencing the game in a new way and lures them into a false sense of security. Kinda like using candy to lure people into a gingerbread house before trapping them in an oven, and because they have that candy, they feel compelled to fight their way out even though the odds are stacked against them.

Post by Astaroth on Nov 16, 2015 18:08:10 GMT -6

I like all of these suggestions except for the special ending. Putting part of a game's story behind difficulty levels feels like a "come on, really?" thing to do. I remember Shadows of the Empire doing something similar with difficulty levels and trying to get the "full" ending felt more like a chore than an incentive/reward. It's also a wasted effort on the developer's end since players can just look up easter eggs and cutscenes on youtube nowadays.

The higher drop rate idea feels like a much better incentive to play higher difficulties since it's based on the player themselves experiencing the game in a new way and lures them into a false sense of security. Kinda like using candy to lure people into a gingerbread house before trapping them in an oven, and because they have that candy, they feel compelled to fight their way out even though the odds are stacked against them.

Agree that putting a story ending tied to difficulty is a bad idea, and while yes youtube is a spoiler repository you could make the same claim for any ending/cutscene/game so why make anything if itll just be up on youtube in a week?

An easter egg ending for nightmare would give you a cherry buried under the walnut pile, you have to work to get each morsel and get down to it and that will make it so much better when you do get it, but you still get the story ending if you go for the chocolate sundae or the can of whipped cream

Post by Goobsausage on Nov 16, 2015 20:12:00 GMT -6

I like all of these suggestions except for the special ending. Putting part of a game's story behind difficulty levels feels like a "come on, really?" thing to do. I remember Shadows of the Empire doing something similar with difficulty levels and trying to get the "full" ending felt more like a chore than an incentive/reward. It's also a wasted effort on the developer's end since players can just look up easter eggs and cutscenes on youtube nowadays.

The higher drop rate idea feels like a much better incentive to play higher difficulties since it's based on the player themselves experiencing the game in a new way and lures them into a false sense of security. Kinda like using candy to lure people into a gingerbread house before trapping them in an oven, and because they have that candy, they feel compelled to fight their way out even though the odds are stacked against them.

Agree that putting a story ending tied to difficulty is a bad idea, and while yes youtube is a spoiler repository you could make the same claim for any ending/cutscene/game so why make anything if itll just be up on youtube in a week?

An easter egg ending for nightmare would give you a cherry buried under the walnut pile, you have to work to get each morsel and get down to it and that will make it so much better when you do get it, but you still get the story ending if you go for the chocolate sundae or the can of whipped cream

...i need to stop commenting on an empty stomach

Because playing a game for yourself and just watching someone else play it are two different experiences.

I know you're trying to sell the idea of an easter egg ending as a fun reward and motivation for playing difficult modes. However, I just don't see it that way. I think the main incentive for playing games at harder difficulties should be that players actually want to play them. Their personal experience/time they enjoyed should be the reward (or Steam/Xbox Achievements/PSN Trophies and bragging rights, if people are into those).

Having to play a game on a difficulty you feel is out of your league is a huge time investment, frustrating experience, and just not worth it for a different/extra cutscene. I don't think having story details or easter eggs on higher difficulties is fair to people who are interested in the story, want to access every story detail and easter egg for themselves, and suck at the game.

Post by Dvv on Nov 16, 2015 21:02:44 GMT -6

I don't think having story details or easter eggs on higher difficulties is fair to people who are interested in the story, want to access every story detail and easter egg for themselves, and suck at the game.

Story details? Sure I don't think that should be locked behind higher difficulty.

An easter egg or an unlock? Harmless. No harm in giving anyone who beat the hardest difficulty an extra costume/accessory or a weapon for future playthroughs.

It's nice to have an incentive to push yourself. Nothing can push someone to finish something grueling more then knowing there is a reward at the peak of the mountain. If someone DOES suck at the game like you said a nice little incentive can push someone to put more effort then normal. As long as there is nothing too grand like a whole other character then its fine.

Post by Goobsausage on Nov 17, 2015 7:51:31 GMT -6

I don't think having story details or easter eggs on higher difficulties is fair to people who are interested in the story, want to access every story detail and easter egg for themselves, and suck at the game.

Story details? Sure I don't think that should be locked behind higher difficulty.

An easter egg or an unlock? Harmless. No harm in giving anyone who beat the hardest difficulty an extra costume/accessory or a weapon for future playthroughs.

It's nice to have an incentive to push yourself. Nothing can push someone to finish something grueling more then knowing there is a reward at the peak of the mountain. If someone DOES suck at the game like you said a nice little incentive can push someone to put more effort then normal. As long as there is nothing too grand like a whole other character then its fine.

I think a better solution would be to have multiple ways to unlock extras instead of just tying them to difficulty levels, especially since Nightmare mode is supposed to be super hard. People play games for different reasons, including relaxation, entertainment, and escape. I understand wanting to reward skill and provide challenge, but I don't think "get good" should justify withholding content, story or otherwise.

Post by purifyweirdsoul on Nov 17, 2015 8:16:58 GMT -6

Incentivizing completion of higher difficulties is important, though. It doesn't have to be anything particularly important, just -something- to show for it. In a game with as much gear and extras as we expect this one to have, why not? Maybe a special hat? Games have been doing this for a long time now, and even in games I love, sometimes I forgo doing the higher difficulties because I don't feel like I really want that completion unlock...but I'm glad it's there as a reward for those that do.

Someone that plays the game seriously enough to "get gud", that's great. Give them a special cookie they can eat for 10 HP, I don't know...but something! Otherwise, these careful difficulty balancing "not just numbers" suggestions we've all been making this whole time, if implemented, will have gone to waste because so few players will bother with it as there's no incentive to do so. Granted, who knows if any of our ideas will make it in, but you know what I'm saying.

I would figure that in general, if someone is a fan enough of the game to care about that one difficulty thing they're missing, then they care enough to keep playing/get beter at it. If there's an alternative way to get a hold of it, I imagine it would be real $$$ lol. Oh, games these days...

Post by Dvv on Nov 17, 2015 13:10:47 GMT -6

I think a better solution would be to have multiple ways to unlock extras instead of just tying them to difficulty levels, especially since Nightmare mode is supposed to be super hard. People play games for different reasons, including relaxation, entertainment, and escape. I understand wanting to reward skill and provide challenge, but I don't think "get good" should justify withholding content, story or otherwise.

I just don't agree with you on this. Not everyone is able to unlock everything in a game and that's fine. Saying that everyone should be able to unlock everything regardless of skill is like saying "Congratulations! You gained a gold star because you tried!".

Chances are is someone actually wants to unlock everything they're willing to submit themselves to the harder difficulty in the first place.

Post by Goobsausage on Nov 17, 2015 18:17:25 GMT -6

I think a better solution would be to have multiple ways to unlock extras instead of just tying them to difficulty levels, especially since Nightmare mode is supposed to be super hard. People play games for different reasons, including relaxation, entertainment, and escape. I understand wanting to reward skill and provide challenge, but I don't think "get good" should justify withholding content, story or otherwise.

I just don't agree with you on this. Not everyone is able to unlock everything in a game and that's fine. Saying that everyone should be able to unlock everything regardless of skill is like saying "Congratulations! You gained a gold star because you tried!".

Chances are is someone actually wants to unlock everything they're willing to submit themselves to the harder difficulty in the first place.

Well, I think that gold star is worth fighting for. It wouldn't stop anyone from enjoying Nightmare mode if they wanted to do it. The challenge is still there.

All the arguments in favor of withholding game content behind difficulty (or one unlock method) and how people should try harder/get better feel like the conversation in KOTOR about the Mandalorian war where Carth goes "I don't want to talk about the horrors of war," and Canderous replies by saying "Horrors of war? My people only know the glory of battle" and tells Carth he hoped he'd be more like him. Not everyone plays games to be challenged, but I don't want to take away challenge from people who want it. I'd rather find a solution that accommodates as many people as possible than just play a certain way.

Everyone experiences games differently. I feel multiple unlock methods are a good way of giving Canderous people who want challenge and Carth people who aren't interested in challenge but still want to spend time with a game the freedom to enjoy it the way they want.

Post by Dvv on Nov 17, 2015 19:39:31 GMT -6

I just don't agree with you on this. Not everyone is able to unlock everything in a game and that's fine. Saying that everyone should be able to unlock everything regardless of skill is like saying "Congratulations! You gained a gold star because you tried!".

Chances are is someone actually wants to unlock everything they're willing to submit themselves to the harder difficulty in the first place.

Well, I think that gold star is worth fighting for. It wouldn't stop anyone from enjoying Nightmare mode if they wanted to do it.

All the arguments in favor of withholding content behind difficulty (or one unlock method) and how people should try harder/get better feel like the conversation in KOTOR about the Mandalorian war where Carth goes "I don't want to talk about the horrors of war," and Canderous replies by saying "My people only know the glory of battle."

Everyone experiences games differently. I feel multiple unlock methods are a good way of giving Canderous people who want challenge and Carth people who aren't interested in challenge but still want to spend time with the game the space/freedom to enjoy things the way they want.

Putting in an easy and a hard way to unlock something makes ABSOLUTELY zero sense. The easy way COMPLETELY invalidates the hard way, as no one who would want said unlock would do it the hard way. At that point no one doing the hard way would be doing it for the unlock. Some people need the incentive of a prize to do something hard, some reason to push themselves farther then they would normally. Once again im not saying story details as that is something that shouldn't be locked off, it could be something as small as a new costume, hairstyle or accessory. Obviously a ton of people are going to play Nightmare difficulty just for the sake of doing it, myself included, but giving the people who are iffy about trying something harder a reason to push themselves is always nice.

Even some of the Castlevania games give you a reward for finishing the hard mode, or have weapons and equips that can only be gotten while doing hard mode.

Post by Goobsausage on Nov 17, 2015 23:46:11 GMT -6

Putting in an easy and a hard way to unlock something makes ABSOLUTELY zero sense. The easy way COMPLETELY invalidates the hard way, as no one who would want said unlock would do it the hard way. At that point no one doing the hard way would be doing it for the unlock. Some people need the incentive of a prize to do something hard, some reason to push themselves farther then they would normally. Once again im not saying story details as that is something that shouldn't be locked off, it could be something as small as a new costume, hairstyle or accessory. Obviously a ton of people are going to play Nightmare difficulty just for the sake of doing it, myself included, but giving the people who are iffy about trying something harder a reason to push themselves is always nice.

Even some of the Castlevania games give you a reward for finishing the hard mode, or have weapons and equips that can only be gotten while doing hard mode.

...I think you'll be fine. :p

But in all seriousness, I should've gone into more detail of the examples I want to see with multiple unlocks and probably should've done it earlier in order to save everyone a lot of grief. How ideas are executed are more important than the idea themselves, and multiple unlock options doesn't automatically mean "easy and hard way." I was thinking "this way or that way".

This is what I hope to see happen: -Beat Nightmare mode once, or finish 10 playthroughs on other difficulties-Beat the game in 3 hrs or less, or slay a total of 3,000 cumulative enemies -Beat boss rush on hard in less than 8 minutes, or beat 5o cumulative bosses on boss rush

There'd be an option that rewards players who aren't as skilled and still dedicate time to the game without just giving things away, but doing it the "hard"/skilled way could be more worthwhile. With the Nightmare mode example, beating it could actually be faster and a better option. Incentive would still be there, but it's also accommodating other players who don't want to put up with difficulty (or just suck).

I hope this clears things up and feels like a better solution. If not... I don't think either of us is going to change the other's mind at this point and it'd probably be best to move on.

This is what I hope to see happen: -Beat Nightmare mode once, or finish 10 playthroughs on other difficulties-Beat the game in 3 hrs or less, or slay a total of 3,000 cumulative enemies -Beat boss rush on hard in less than 8 minutes, or beat 5o cumulative bosses on boss rush

Post by ghaleon on Nov 18, 2015 3:33:44 GMT -6

I don't like meandering into someone's suggestion and telling them it is bad without thinking of some portion of it I support as well.And while I don't think this thread is a 'flamewar' or anything like that, I have to say I don't write this in an effort to add fuel to the 'fire'.But I can't help it. Dvv, I think your accusations of Goob having ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE. is disrespectful... how would you like it if I said "please use a brain before posting an opinion"? Pretty rude and disrespectful right? Are they the same thing? no, but do they MEAN the same thing? well... yeah, both lines pretty much accuse the other person of having no thought behind their opinions.

Goob's opinions aren't absolutely non-sensical, you just disagree with them. Try to do so with logic instead of accusing the dude of making absolutely no sense, being completely unreasonable, etc. It just makes you look like a jerk.

Frankly I think it's pretty sad that people these days think they need some kind of reward for playing a game on a harder difficulty... harder difficulties exist to provide challenge to players who enjoy challenge in games and feel normal difficulties do not provide.. that's it... games are supposed to be fun to the people who want to have fun...not to hold something hostage and force people to play them.

You talk about 'pushing' players like that's a good thing... I myself as a gamer enjoy pushing myself to do better, but not everyone is me, not everyone plays games for the same reason as me... how arrogant do I have to be to think EVERYONE should enjoy things for the same reason as me?

If you want to talk about sense, I think it makes no sense to force people to push themselves to give them a reward for a game... Imagine if you WANTED the reward, like it was a costume you thought looked the best, and you wanted to enjoy it, but you weren't a good gamer, and playing nightmare was... a nightmare... imagine pushing yourself to finally earn it after years..then what... there's nothing new or challenging to enjoy with what you finally earned.. that's it. the game is done... I mean games have replay value and stuff sure.. but if you weren't good and nightmare was past your limitations and you worked and worked and worked to get that damn reward, do you REALLY think you'd feel like playing the game more after you PUSHED yourself to get it? When people push themselves on and on, they get burnt out, they need a break... so now they got their damn reward and they can't even use it for their normal casual enjoyment. Frankly I think that's counter-productive, and a waste of asset-development.

Not to mention how unfair would it be if one player's fave costume was costume #3, which you get for getting a few drops from some zombies, a wolf, and the 2nd boss, and another player's fave costume was obtained only via finishing nightmare mode? Let's make player #2s tastes *WAY* harder to obtain because damn their tastes!

Frankly I think unlocking a story makes more sense than unlocking something for fun because of the above reasons... story is something everyone can enjoy the same, but cosmetics matter more to some people than others, and I don't see why some people should have to do more for what they want than others...not that I think a story should be unlocked on hard or whatever as well.

I'm sorry to continue something you guys agreed to drop, but I only saw that blurb that set me off so to speak at the same session as when you guys stopped, and I thought I should say something. I know I like it when people speak up when I think people disrespect me after all.

Post by Dvv on Nov 18, 2015 13:08:05 GMT -6

Dvv, I think your accusations of Goob having ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE. is disrespectful...

Reading comprehension my friend. I said that specific STATEMENT made no sense, not that Goob himself having no sense. Stop trying to feel offense for other people, especially when nothing offensive was said and the other person obviously didn't care. Congrats my friend you've just found out the meaning of "making a mountain out of a molehill.

Not to mention how unfair would it be if one player's fave costume was costume #3, which you get for getting a few drops from some zombies, a wolf, and the 2nd boss, and another player's fave costume was obtained only via finishing nightmare mode? Let's make player #2s tastes *WAY* harder to obtain because damn their tastes!

And? These are video games we're talking about. Not being able to unlock a cosmetic won't ruin the whole experience. It's fine if someone doesn't unlock everything in every given game. You're actively complaining against hard unlocks, a staple in video games, and even something Castlevania itself liked to do. It isn't fair you say? That's life, not everything HAS to be fair. I'm sick of this recent trend in the world in general that if EVERYTHING isn't fair to EVERYONE then its no good.

All you're doing by further discussing something that is already dropped is further derailing this thread more off-topic then it was already getting.

Post by ghaleon on Nov 18, 2015 15:14:03 GMT -6

I know you meant his argument, not his person, but it's still a pretty lame method of argument to make accusations like that. Being thick-skinned or thin isn't the issue, point is that's just a disrespectful way to argue, telling people they need to toughen up when you can't debate productively isn't the solution.

Just because games have rewarded for completing hard mode in the past doesn't mean it's a good idea. frusterating escort quests have been around even longer and nobody seems to think THAT is a good idea. I also never said not being able to unlock a cosmetic would ruin the whole experience, funny you say that immediately after a cheeky 'did I say that' which wasn't even addressing you but a 'what if'. Also, I'm not actively complaining, I'm trying to argue why I think it's a bad idea, there's a difference.

"life isn't fair" is also a dumb cop-out of an argument. Games are supposed to be fun and challenging, not to emulate the crappier elements of life being unfair. And what I'm doing is trying to let you know that people MAY want to contribute to such a discussion, and maybe even future discussions you might bring up, but your method of debate is a major turn off. I don't think it's possible to be ON topic while you're so disrespectful in your response...

Also, I'm not making a mountain of a molehill, if I was I'd be insulting you and/or using the report button or whatever, but I'm not. Frankly I think you're using hyperbole far more than I.

Post by Dragon_of_Dojima on Nov 18, 2015 16:58:49 GMT -6

Some games where they lock out endings and story details in difficulty modes are Max Payne 1 and 2 and Allan Wake from Remedy Entertainment. I get what they were trying to do, but that was a dick move especially for the former since those games are already games that adjust to how you play by making them as hard as it deems you good. You get 3 kills? Well good for you, here's instant death!

I kid, but it really is something like that. The weird thing is, all of those games have difficulty modes too in addition to that system. Difficulty modes that seem to be a nightmarish term for gamers who want a REAL CHALLENGE.

I have no idea how Iga is going to handle Nightmare Mode. If it were me making this game, this mode would be a joke. You know how if you pirate Serious Sam 3, an invincible Pink Scorpion will chase you forever? I'd probably make it so that a demon like Mara or Lilith or Freddy Krueger chase you endlessly and there wouldn't be any save points or safe rooms.

Post by Dvv on Nov 18, 2015 18:30:33 GMT -6

I know you meant his argument, not his person, but it's still a pretty lame method of argument to make accusations like that.

Then your argument hold no grounds if you know the difference, as its not a personal attack like you're making it out to be. Nor is saying "Putting in an easy and a hard way to unlock something makes ABSOLUTELY zero sense" a "method of argument to make accusation" like you're making it out to be. If thats all I had to say then sure you would be right, but I had way more to say then just that. I pretty much just said "I think that makes no sense and here is why....". There is no accusations, there is no insult, there is no disrespect, there is literally zero reason for you to be offended at this like you are. Remember my friend, offensive is never given, it is only taken. Try to relax a bit.

Once again all you're doing is derailing this further then it already is. We're here to talk about potential aspects of a game, not you getting upset on how someone worded something. So I kindly ask for you to drop this and to stick to talking about game ideas. These kind of conversations are things that should be kept to PMs, so if you absolutely MUST continue this do it that way.

Post by gunlord500 on Nov 19, 2015 6:29:14 GMT -6

Yes, I'll agree with Dvv here. Try to avoid personal attacks, and if something is really rankling you then handle it via PM rather than publicly. If someone's worded a post in a way you feel is poor, contact them personally to advise them about it. That has the added virtue of being less likely to draw other people in your argument, which makes it harder to make points :p

Now, what I'd like to see in Nightmare difficulty mode...hmm. Honestly, just buffing the enemies isn't really appealing to me, for the reasons dvv said above. I'd rather see wholesale changes in level design and enemy placement. One great example of this would be the differences in the last boss fight between Dracula X and Rondo of Blood. In Rondo, you fought Dracula on a flat plane, making him almost trivially easy. In Dracula X, however, you fought him in a room full of pillars you could fall from, making the battle much harder. Dracula Chronicles added a whole new third phase to the fight, which also worked. Still, that's pretty difficult and consuming of resources, so I can understand if they don't want to do that.

Post by Dvv on Nov 20, 2015 0:32:01 GMT -6

Now, what I'd like to see in Nightmare difficulty mode...hmm. Honestly, just buffing the enemies isn't really appealing to me, for the reasons dvv said above. I'd rather see wholesale changes in level design and enemy placement. One great example of this would be the differences in the last boss fight between Dracula X and Rondo of Blood. In Rondo, you fought Dracula on a flat plane, making him almost trivially easy. In Dracula X, however, you fought him in a room full of pillars you could fall from, making the battle much harder. Dracula Chronicles added a whole new third phase to the fight, which also worked. Still, that's pretty difficult and consuming of resources, so I can understand if they don't want to do that.

Thats actually pretty neat and I didn't think of that. Perhaps some bosses could have little remixes like that? Something different and unexpected to spice things up.

Post by Kaius on Nov 20, 2015 12:11:02 GMT -6

Basically, for a Nightmare Mode, I don't think it just needs to make monsters stronger where you will only need to farm and XP until you beat their terrifying level. I think they got to have harder AI so you HAVE TO learn to dodge their attacks correctly, know their weaknesses, use a thinked strategy and not just "go in and smash until it's dead". Well, a REAL change, that is all.

Medusa's Heads are annoying. To me, a zone full them was too much but if you put one or two in a melee it can supports other monsters and be a real pain to your life gauge, if you are stonned in middle of dangerous monsters.

Only attacking monsters is pretty predictable. If they have tank monsters like knight armors, with medusa's to stone you while skeleton snipers shoot at you in the same time, it can make a difference.Monsters names are only exemple and this is only one situational possibility.

Well, from what I see usually in difficulty modes, it's only makes monsters stronger, tougher, more numberous with better loots. In Devil May Cry 3 for instance, bosses use more skills (more dangerous and / or powerful ones), are stronger, faster and are less predictable if you pick a higher level of difficulty.

We could see environment dangers too (spikes, lava, poison clouds, etc...). Well, you get the idea.

Post by Dvv on Nov 22, 2015 17:23:32 GMT -6

Medusa's Heads are annoying. To me, a zone full them was too much but if you put one or two in a melee it can supports other monsters and be a real pain to your life gauge, if you are stonned in middle of dangerous monsters.

I dislike the idea suggested to tie the story to difficulty as not everyone has the time nor inclination to want to play or even appreciate the sometimes frustrating repetitive nature that evolves from a higher difficulty setting.

Nor would I want to see random drops tied to a higher difficulty level, be that costumes or powerful crafting artifacts, it should be an 'even' playing field in that regard (random chance is random and not influenced by difficulty).

Let the higher difficulty be there purely for the joy that comes to those few of us who beat the game on a higher difficulty. I just hope it's worth it and is a real challenge!

crocodile: Thanks for the well wishes everyone. Been busy with life (+ no updates) means I haven't been checking around here super often but do know I still love all you guys Aug 16, 2017 18:11:01 GMT -6